Richard Jay Anthony, 1943-2021

He was born Dec. 7, 1943, in Felmington, N.J.

He leaves behind his loving sons, Andrew (Sammi Garrity) of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Marc of Pittsburgh, Pa.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Margaret Anthony; and a brother, Andrew Anthony.

Richard grew up in Flemington and attended Hunterdon Central High School, where he was a phenomenal multi-varsity athlete. He was quarterback of the football team and also played baseball and basketball. He went to college at Kent State University, where he studied psychology, and Youngstown State University, where he studied accounting and business administration. He played semi-pro football and basketball and enjoyed coaching baseball for both of his sons’ teams. Richard was also an avid golfer in his younger years.

Richard was a member of the armed forces in the Army Reserve for many years. Throughout Richard’s career, he held several executive level roles as chief financial officer, vice president of finance/administration, and treasurer for different companies. Richard was a certified public accountant, managing his own firm in Canfield and Poland for many years. Richard maintained a strong work ethic, never slowing down. His motto was “check and re-check.”

Richard always had a passion for growing roses and later in life moved to Tennessee, where he owned and operated several greenhouses, growing and hybridizing new roses. He hybridized and registered / named around 30 new roses throughout the last several years. He was also a Master Consulting Rosarian, an accredited ARS Horticultural Judge, a longtime member of the ARS Miniature & Miniflora Committee and a member of the ARS Exhibitors Committee. He is the past district director of the ARS Tenarky District, which includes Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He was a frequent presenter at the national and district level on various rose topics, including hybridizing, exhibiting roses and new roses. Richard also held several roles within local and district rose societies that were part of the American Rose Society.

Richard had many rose friends and loved going to rose shows and exhibiting on a national level, winning more than 130 Queens of Show and seven National Challenge Class trophies. He used to like to listen to Louie Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” on the way to rose shows.

Richard also enjoyed fishing, with his most recent fishing trip this past September with his son, Andrew, in Arkansas. In his free time, he loved watching his favorite sports team, the New York Yankees. Richard enjoyed reading history books and most recently spent his free time writing a book about life.

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